Reckless Driver Arrested in New Belgrade After Driving 182 km/h A midnight sprint on the New Belgrade motorway has turned into a showcase of “zero tolerance” policing — and a textbook case of how Serbian tabloids turn traffic crime into political theater.

The 2 a.m. chase

Around 2 a.m., traffic police in an unmarked “presretač” vehicle clocked a 20‑year‑old Golf driver at 182 km/h on a stretch limited to 80 km/h, more than double the allowed speed. Further checks showed the man was heavily intoxicated, with 1.31 per mille of alcohol, and behind the wheel despite a revoked license due to previous penalty points. He was immediately pulled from traffic, detained, and hit with a misdemeanor complaint for reckless driving and other serious violations.

By morning, pro‑government outlets had the story — and the footage.

Pro‑government media: drama, threat, salvation

Alo framed the incident as a near‑miss catastrophe: “Drunk Without a License, He Drove 182 km/h in New Belgrade,” stressing that police had “prevented a potential tragedy” and vowing continued “enhanced controls” and strict sanctions to protect citizens.

Telegraf pushed the heroics further, publishing a “VIDEO OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE ARROGANT DRIVER” and declaring that the Interior Ministry had released “all the details of the drama in New Belgrade,” casting officers as protagonists in a late‑night rescue operation.

Republika went full tabloid with a headline screaming: “DEAD DRUNK WILD WITHOUT A LICENSE! Watch the video of reckless driving in New Belgrade: He sped at 182 km per hour (VIDEO),” amplifying the sense of menace and moral outrage.

One narrative, many exclamation marks

Across all pro‑government coverage, the storyline is identical: a lone, “arrogant” offender; calm, efficient police; and a capital saved from disaster by vigilant state power. The facts are stark enough on their own — 182 km/h, drunk, no license — but the language and video‑heavy packaging turn a serious traffic crime into a made‑for‑TV validation of the government’s law‑and‑order brand.